The Education Bureau has refuted lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen’s comment that “the Government has fully controlled the Council of the Univesity of Hong Kong”.
Also convenor of the university’s Alumni Concern Group, Mr Ip expressed his concern on a radio programme this morning that the Government has appointed external stakeholders as council members to interfere with the appointment of pro-vice-chancellor and academic freedom, and that the autonomy of tertiary institutions might be violated.
The bureau said the allegation is groundless.
Noting the council is the supreme governing body of the university, the bureau said, out of the 24 council members, only the chairman and six members are appointed by the Chief Executive as the university’s Chancellor.
Other members are either appointed or elected by the council, the court, teachers, employees, undergraduate students and postgraduate students.
The Chief Executive has appointed two new council members. Based on the ratio or number of members appointed by the Chief Executive, it is untrue to say the Government has fully controlled the council, the bureau said.
The Government respects the statutory functions of the council and its decision-making power and decisions, it added.
